Modern industry requires structural materials to have high strength, fracture toughness and stiffness while reducing weight as much as possible. In this case, light-weight high-strength alloys represented by aluminum and titanium, and load-bearing heat-resistant alloys represented by Ni-based superalloys have become one of the key development materials in the new material research and development plans of various countries, and they are also important in laser additive manufacturing. important application materials.
The advantages and differences of titanium and aluminum
Aluminum alloy and titanium alloy, due to their excellent low density and structural strength, are widely used in aerospace, automobile, machinery manufacturing and other fields, whether using 3D printing or CNC processing, especially occupy a very important position in the aviation industry. It is the main structural material in the aviation industry.
Both titanium and aluminum are light, but there is still a difference between the two. Although titanium weighs about two-thirds more than aluminum, its inherent strength means that less can be used to achieve the required strength. Titanium alloys are widely used in aircraft jet engines and various spacecraft, and its strength and low density can reduce fuel costs. The density of aluminum alloy is only one-third of that of steel, and it is the most widely used and most common lightweight material for automobiles at this stage; studies have shown that aluminum alloys can use up to 540kg in a complete vehicle. 40% weight reduction, the all-aluminum body of Audi, Toyota and other brand vehicles is a good example.
Since both materials have high strength and low density, other differentiating factors must be considered when deciding which alloy to use.
Strength/Weight: In critical situations, every gram of a part counts, but if higher strength components are required, titanium is the way to go. Because of this, titanium alloys are used in the manufacture of medical devices/implants, complex satellite assemblies, fixation devices and stents, among others.
Cost: Aluminum is the most cost-effective metal for machining or 3D printing; titanium is expensive but can still drive a leap in value. Lightweight parts will bring huge benefits to the fuel savings of aircraft or spacecraft, while titanium alloy parts will have a longer service life.
Thermal performance: Aluminum alloy has high thermal conductivity and is often used to make radiators; for high-temperature applications, titanium's high melting point makes it more suitable, and aeroengines contain a large number of titanium alloy components.
Corrosion Resistance: Both aluminum and titanium have excellent corrosion resistance.
Titanium's corrosion resistance and low reactivity make it the most biocompatible metal and is widely used in medical applications such as surgical instruments. Ti64 also resists saline environments well and is often used in marine applications.
Aluminum alloys and titanium alloys are very common in aerospace applications. Titanium alloy has high strength and low density (only about 57% of steel), and its specific strength (strength/density) is much greater than that of other metal structural materials. It can produce parts with high unit strength, good rigidity and light weight. Titanium alloys can be used for aircraft engine components, skeletons, skins, fasteners and landing gear. 3D printing technology reference data found that aluminum alloy is suitable for working in an environment below 200 °C. The aluminum material used in the Airbus A380 fuselage accounts for more than 1/3, and the C919 also uses a large number of conventional high-performance aluminum alloy materials. Aluminum alloys can be used for aircraft skins, bulkheads, and wing ribs.
